Let's Build Gonave, Haiti!

(Image by Google Earth) This map is what could be the commuter rail line for Gonave.  The line would be some 77 miles long when completed, and would be done in phases/sections.  The goal is to connect the island with rail, while limiting the amount of personal vehicles. The track would be single track in most locations, and then branch to double track along some stations and major areas. I will post photos and videos of a potential train system that could utilize this track.  Not only will this system allow for passenger traffic by day and night, but also will allow for freight in the late hours of the night, which can limit the amount of money needed for have more ports and highways. While this system is many years away, and completing the entire system is even many more years away, it is an idea of how to modernize Gonave and put it in direct competition with places like Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic. Go Gonave!

While it comes to a surprise, this island is a little smaller than Gonave, and played a key role in World War II.  Guam is a US territory, and comprises some 209 sq miles. While the economy of Guam is strongly linked to tourism and the US defense military base.  Now Gonave wouldn't have a US defense base, it can have a strong tourist, agricultural, and light manufacturing economy.  Developing Gonave will be a challenge given the lay of the land is different than Gonave, and also Gonave doesn't have the United States as a major financial backer.  This doesn't mean Gonave can't develop and even trump Guam, or Puerto Rico for that matter.  Gonave has to be smart, and build critical infrastructure slowly, while focusing on easy and cheap economic activities that can yield a high return. Thought? Go Gonave!

Turning Gonave into a Free Trade Zone To move the economy of Gonave as one single unit is to make Gonave a Free Trade Zone, which is the same as an Export Trade Zone, will bring in many different companies to the island.  Having a FTZ is nothing new, and it builds an economy.  Instead of having just a few zones which are usually around seaports, international airports, or on international borders, I propose turning the entire island of Gonave into a FTZ. The entire island of Mauritius in Africa is also a FTZ.  This has boosted this tiny island of only 787 square miles of having a GDP of $10.49 billion as of 2012, according to the World Bank.  The much larger Madagascar in Africa, which is at 226,597 square miles, which the entire isn't isn't a FTZ has a GDP of $9.975 billion as of 2012 according to the World Bank.  So not only does Madagascar have much more land, and over 20 million people compared to Mauritius which has just over 1 million people, Maurit...